Paul Gripper Memorial Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Friends of Paul Gripper have selected their 2020 Paul Gripper Memorial Scholarship recipient. This is the inaugural year for the scholarship which awards at least $250 towards tuition or school-related expenses and a laptop computer for a student entering their freshman year of high school. The recipient was selected after displaying remarkable dedication to the sport of basketball, academic achievement, extra-curricular participation and community service.

Funded by the Friends of Paul Gripper, the scholarship program is designed to facilitate the transition from middle school to high school for a local student-athlete. The late Paul Gripper had a long-standing history of service to the local basketball community. He was especially dedicated to working with middle school student-athletes and was instrumental in guiding the development of scores of players that received full basketball scholarships.

The Friends of Paul Gripper includes representatives from the Philly Pride Basketball Club, Team Final Basketball Club, NJ Playaz Basketball Club, Black Cager Sports Media, Rider University Men’s Basketball, the families Torre Harrison, Jonathan Michels and many others that were touched by the magnificent work of Paul Gripper.

2020 Paul Gripper Memorial Scholar

Khalid Jenkins, Cardinal O’Hara High School – In the fall of 2020, Khalid Jenkins will attend Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, Pennsylvania. With the goal to one day be a college student-athlete, Jenkins flourished academically at West Oak Lane Charter School. West Oak Lane provides students with a student-centered, learning environment emphasizing literacy, math and the sciences as well as targeted intervention and enrichment programs so all graduates are prepared for and accepted to high performing high schools. His desire to achieve academically and athletically stems from guidance he has received from his mother Priya Cavanaugh, stepfather Dwayne Murphy and his grassroots coach Jarett Kearse. When he wasn’t doing homework or helping at home, Jenkins was in the gym with Kearse and his Philly Blue Magic teammates. While at West Oak Lane, he was an Honor Roll student and played on the boys’ basketball teams.